[Anyone Wish The Colts Had Won That Last Game Now?]

I remember when I was rooting for the Colts to loose the last game of the season because I wanted the #1 overall pick so the Colts could trade it and get numerous picks to address several area's of need. Now we have sat through a month and haif of Manning Gate and it is the same thing everyday. The soap opera continues everyday. Now I know how the Packers must have felt when Favre was replaced but at least they had a prepared Rodgers ready to take the reigns.

If I only knew what I knew now I might have rooted for them to win that last game so we wouldn't have the #1 overall pick and all this talk of replacing Manning would be different I think. What would we be thinking then? Wouldn't it be nice to be #2 overall and have a healthy Manning coming back into the fold? Would we be talking about drafting RG3? How things could have been different if we just had won that last game.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

I actually hate to say it but I have less fears of Luck embarrassing himself then Peyton.

Peyton has a reputation to perform at an extremely high level and anything less will make us all whisper.

Luck as a rookie on ANY team will have less expectations to me being that he is a rookie and likely going to be part of a rebuilding team with lesser expectations.

Again, Peyton in his rookie season won how many games? How many years did it take for him to win a playoff game or let alone a SB?

Overall, my original thought here was WHY would Luck want to come to a team UNLESS he knows he will start soon.

I think many will get broken hearts if they expect Peyton and the Colts to win any titles soon. I just don't think it is going to happen.

Nothing wrong with your liking Luck. Thats what these boards are about. I respect everyone's opinions if logical. I have been a STH for 16 plus years and I bought individual tix for 6 plus years prior to that. It has been a great 13 years with Manning and I have seen him due wonderful things for this franchise, for this City and for this fan base. I don't paint my face anymore or wear my zoomba's to the games anymore but I'm still a huge fan. It has been wonderful to see this fan base evolve into what it has but we did that with Manning and I am loyal to him and I think he deserves to end his career with the team he built, not to be pushed out. I sat through the bad years and was loyal, I went to the airport and met the team in the almost years. Let the guy that built this franchise ride off into the sun on his own terms. With that said, I also think Manning owes it to this franchise to restructure his contract to be more cap friendly. Irsay did keep him on the roster the entire season and he got paid. So it goes both ways.

If Luck comes, he is going to have to win and win early or people will turn on him. Rodgers replaced Favre but he was prepared. Young replaced Montana but he was prepared. Luck is not prepared and I can't see him wanting to sit behind Manning so there in lies my concern from the Luck camp. They won't want to come here if Manning Stays. This will turn into Elway all over again but I think the Colts are better prepared for life without Luck if we trade the pick. We have a guy on the sideline that is more than ready.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

So what makes some here (not saying you) actually believe this team is going to win another title even WITH Manning if it was so difficult just to win one with the great Tony Dungy as our head coach and all the pieces here.

What does Manning even gain by staying with the Colts? What do the Colts gain by paying him a lot of money?

The team hit rock bottom last year and was declining in 2010 IMO including Manning in some of his games.

A lot of this makes NO sense to me.

I hope Irsay does the right thing in the end for his business.

I never said keeping Manning means your going to win another Title but you have to get there to have a chance and I think Manning has proven he can do that more than anyone in this league. I would also say that 2010 was a pretty good year for Manning even with all the injuries the team had we still won 10 games and should have won the game against the Jets. Whose also to say that Manning wasn't having strengh issues with his arm then due to the neck problem. Would that be the reason he got the surguries? I believe he said he suffered the injury in 2006.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

You take Luck and throw him to the wolves and I say he gets hurt and never develops into the great player he was projected to be. Sure Luck is probable the real deal but I just think you can pass on him and build a much stronger team going forward by getting the picks he could bring. This team needs a lot more than one player right now and Manning, if healthy, gives you the best opportunity to keep winning. Polian admited he failed at getting an adquate backup, now you have a new front office and other players can be drafted to be developed. As much as I hate to say it, the Pats got a pretty good guy in the 6th round who wasnt graded very high by Mel Kiper and he turned out pretty good.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

Do you really think the best QB prospect since PM or Elway comes around every draft?

If you do, please identify the QBs in past drafts that were as highly rated by the scouts as Luck.

I follow Mel Kiper, and the last QB prospect he rated as high or higher than he rates Luck was John Elway in 1983.

Just cause you have a great QB doesn't mean your going to win SB's. Marino - 0, Elway didn't until the end of his career, took the greatest one ever, till year 9 to get there, Manning. Just by drafting Luck, equates to nothing. We could have just as easily taken Leaf over Manning then where would have been. Drafting Luck will mean total rebuilding and he has no supporting cast to help him. Wayne won't stay, no running game equates to years of loosing. We go back to the Jeff George years and win nothing.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

Then our future is out the window if this all happens.

*sigh*

This all could end very badly. Very badly.

Why is our future messed up. You can still draft a QB in the next 3 to 4 years to develop just like Rodgers did. Your future is actually better because your going to get numerous picks which will allow you to rebuild. 2012 4th overall and 22nd overall, The 2nd overall in the 2nd round plus Clev's. then you get there 2013 1st rounder and possible get them to throw in a player. To me thats a lot of future. There will be a other QB's coming out in the next 4 years to draft. USC has a pretty good guy coming out and whats to say the Browns dont tank and you get a chance at him. Our future never looked so good! Houston had a pretty good QB that could be developed, just saying. Never put your eggs in one basket.

[Inside The Mind Of Team Luck]

Team Luck will start making noice once Manning restructures his contract and comes back. They will then pull an Eli and ask not to be drafted by the Colts. It's coming so Browms fans get rdy your going to be making a deal to acquire Luck very soon.

[Charlie Williams Is New Colts Wr Coach [Merge]]

^{Just think if the Colts kept Manning, traded that pick and took Blackmon and got Reggie to come back with a cap friendly #. Wayne, Garcon, Blackmon, Collie, OMG! You couldn't match up with them. JMO!}

[Kravitz Takes Back His Noodle Arm Comment]

Peyton Manning probable called him and told him no more interviews unless you retract that comment, lol. One day your getting interviews from Manning the next your in the Manning dog house, and slamming the guy who gave you an interview. This guy is his own worst enemy. Just goes to show you his character!

["noodle Arm"?]

Irsay himself has said that peyton has not been cleared by the colts meaning that he isnt healthy... if he was he would have been cleared... irsay is too smart to be lying to fans.

The Colts have to say this as an organization because if they don't Manning will not be allowed to workout and throw at the facility under the supervision of the Colts trainers. If you say he's healthy and declare him ready to play he can't work out at the facility under the new CBA. This is what I have been told and heard from others. This is why Mr. Irsay reacted the way he did to the Manning release that he was medically cleared by the his doctors. Which by the way was done on Wed. of last week and not broken until late Thursday.

["noodle Arm"?]

Here's whats going to happen, Peyton is going to reduce his contract with the Colts and take a very reduced salary with incentives as well as push back the March 8th deadline for the Colts to evaluate his arm in late April just prior to the draft. If he's ready they keep him. Mr. Irsay and Manning will hold a press conference to explain this to everyone and clear all the air about numerous rumors. If Mr Irsay is a man of his word, he has always said if Manning is healthy he is going to be a Colt for his entire career. I hope he stays to his word if in fact Manning is healthy. I don't think he has a noodle arm but I'm sure there is still some loss of strength in his arm. The last interview I heard, Manning said he worked out that morning and things went very well. Thats all I need to hear.

As a Colts fan, this is the best possible senario for both parties. If in late April he's not ready then I can accept the fact that Manning has seen his last game in a Colts uniform because we have to have a QB. Mr Irsay can save face with the fans and move forward if he has too then. If Manning is ready then we trade the pick and get additional picks and build our team. The reduced salary agreement by Manning will allow us to sign some free agents and address our other area's of concern and looming free agent concerns.

We could also draft Luck but I think our best option is to trade the pick and get additional picks and draft a QB to develop later. Here's where Kravitz has drawn his line in the sand. He thinks Luck is the best option and letting Manning go feeds his hatred of Irsay moving forward so he can be the first one to report that Irsay was stupid for letting Manning go when after 4 years, the Colts, still haven't made it back to the playoffs. Kravitz has his own agenda and he has hated how the Colts have always been so tight lipped about press releases and not giving him his opportunity to break the news. He doesn't know whats going to happen anymore than anyone else but he's always writing and talking about how Manning is gone, "He Just doesn't see any other option," is his favorite line. Lets just be patient and quit feeding the fire.

[How Moving To A 3-4 Defense Could Be Beneficial (Unedited)]

Any defense where we attack and quit letting offenses dictact to us is an upgrade. You don't need a dominating defense anymore just balance. I'd take a top 15 defense in yards and a top 5 defense in pts allowed anytime. As long as our offense can put pts on the board!

[Dolphins Interested In Robert Mathis]

Colts keep Mathis and release Freeney before they let Mathis go. He's younger and more likely to be able to make the transition.

[Without Peyton, We Will Need A Lot Of "luck" -Not Just The Player]

No one is ever considered to be a lock in the NFL. Luck is good but I doubt that he will have very many weapons, by NFL standards, to help him. How many guys with a lot of upside are thrown to the wolves and get destroyed and bust. Keeping Manning, possible getting him to lower his cap hit by restructuring, trading the #1 pick overall helps us the most in the rebuilding process. Middle of last season they were reporting that you could get 2-1st rounders, 2-2nd rounders. Now if you draft well, your telling me that 4 early picks can't help this team rebuild and you still have Manning as your QB. you then draft a QB to develop behind Manning and you hit the reset button and look forward to 3 or 4 years down the road. That senario helps this team rebuild the best possible way and get younger fast. By cutting Manning and then signing Luck you don't address the need to get better players, you don't address the back up QB position, you loose 14 mil in cap space, you can't resign other players within, etc.

Now lets talk money, does the organization make money if Manning is kept or released? I say they make a whole lot more with Manning, STH's are kept happy, Manning brings possitive press to your team and keeps you in the eye of the press and all that does for your team and city, and Manning givies you the best opportunity to keep winning going forward. Were talking Peyton Manning here people, not Carson Palmer. Peyton Manning! The player that did all he has done for your team and your city and you just want to say good bye to him??????? You should be ashamed for even thinking such a thing as a fan and don't give me all this blah, blah, blah about it helps us rebuild going forward. I would take Manning at 50% for 3 to 4 years over an unproven player like Luck everyday and twice on Sunday's. No one works harder, studies film and prepares better than Peyton Manning and if he says he is ready then I believe him.

[Without Peyton, We Will Need A Lot Of "luck" -Not Just The Player]

Do you really think Luck wants to come here and be the guy that replaces an icon. He's in a no win situation. If they go that route he will have no one around him to help him win. He will struggle and the fans will always hate him. At least when Manning came he had Faulk, Harrison and others. Who the heck is Luck going to have? Now, by trading the pick you can get numerous players and get young.

Another thing is, if you draft Luck, whose going to back him up? We've already been through that season.

[Why Irsay Should Announce Intention Before March 1]

I for one wish they would make a decision by March 1st because I think, as a season ticket holder, I want to know what there plan is going forward. Now with that said, everything depends on if Manning is healthy or will be healthy by training camp. Your best chance to win is to trade that #1 pick and get multiple players for that pick. Look, Manning makes everyone better by being on the field. This team needs multiple picks to fill several pieces. This team will not win for several years if they go the Luck route. This team needs players now not by sucking for three to four years.

You can't tell me releasing the greatest QB to ever play the game, if he's healthy and can play 3 to 4 more years, for an a rookie QB is there best option. To me, as I have said, trade the pick, get a RB, a WR some defensive players, keep your offensive prowless like the Pats and build the defense. Draft a QB to develop for 3 to 4 years. You have time to do that. If the Pats can get to the Super Bowl with no defense the Colts can too if you have the greatest QB to play the game on your team.

When Mr. Irsay throws the perfect season, tells us time and time again that Manning will be a Colt for his entire career, I have to start loosing faith in his word. When the guy that built your new stadium, brought the Super Bowl to Indianapolis, put his name on a hospital is no longer in the picture because he gets hurt after not missing 1 freaking game in 13 season's, there's a problem. Quit blowing smoke, 50% of Peyton Manning is better than 85% of all the QB's in the NFL and if healty he can remain the poster child of the NFL for 3 to 4 more years and leave the right way.

Please tell me my 16 years of being a STH means more than a thanks for your money but you don't matter we need to free up money and releasing one of the biggest icons in sports, is just a money decision and our best option as an organization moving forward. I would rather watch Manning for 3 to 4 more years even if we are losing because when he plays we always have a chance to win.

The players are the ones who make this league not the owners, my loyality is to Peyton and I think after all he has done for our city and the Colts he derserves ours.

[Now We Need A Great Oc]

A few weeks ago, most everybody was saying the same thing. Threads like these are proof that no one around here thinks for themselves. Whatever the media tells them, they eat and spit back out on Colts.com.

How do you know he sucks as an OC? You do realize he knows Peyton, right? He's also the one guy who hasn't been fired. Despite every team knowing what we are doing every stinken play, we haven't finished below 5th in scoring offense with Peyton in...forever.

Also, why would the Green Bay OC leave Green Bay to come here? I mean seriously? He's not going to take any job somewhere else unless it's a promotion. Besides, they have a pretty good thing going in Green Bay right now. It's not as easy as just going to get someone.

How do I know he sucks as an OC? I watched every game this year and seen his lack of knowledge and play calling kill us game after game. The guy was a puppet. Watch some game film and see how Manning reacts to his play calling. Its a joke. The guy was given the job because we ran TM out of town and he was just there to be Polian's puppet. 14 years in one system is too long, watch film, see how other teams play us, they know our plays better than we do. Break trends and bring someone else in to install a new vision. It's not the system as much as it's Manning but CC is horrible and that was evident after this year.

As for the GB OC coming that was just a stab at the dark, I know that's not happening that was silly, I know. I'll give ya that one. but CC is horible but with Manning, he looks like a hero but with a new QB, your kidding me. Break trends, take a new vision, start freash and add new ideals. Teams will not be able to prepare as well to new trends.

[Now We Need A Great Oc]

And another thing, fire Clyde and bring in a new OC. The guy sucks as an OC and we need a change anyway. Peyton Manning can learn any system in a month. Teams couldn't read what we are doing every stinken play because we have done the same scheme for too long, need to mix it up. I say get the Greenbay OC and lets go win a SB.

[Now We Need A Great Oc]

Why do we need to get rid of Manning? Don't we have our best opportunity to win if we keep Manning and trade the #1 pick for additional picks, draft a QB later in the draft and develop him. If heathy, Manning can play three more years. The guy made us who we are, he built our new stadium, he's the reason we got the SuperBowl here. Manning masks all our problems and gives us the best opportunity to win. Sure Luck is good but Manning is the Best and he still has fuel in the tank.

If you draft Luck, your not going to win for 2-3 years. Manning only won 3 games his rookie year and he had a better supporting cast than Luck will inherit. I say trade the #1 to say St. Louis, watch them struggle next year and get there #1 pick overall next year and go get USC's QB. You trade Luck away, get additional picks in the draft, possible a player or two and there #1 next year. Build a defense and add couple weapons on offense thats your best opportunity moving forward. You can't let the best ever QB in NFL history just walk away without getting anything for him in return, that just can't happen or we'll have three trades in NFL history listed in the top 10 worst trades ever.

For everyone that thinks Manning just gets released prior to March 8th, and the Colts get nothing for him are just crazy. With that said, you can't have both and Luck is not going to want to sit behind Manning he is going to want to start from day 1 but you can't have 51 million locked up on the QB position. Suicide and it doesn't help us win now or rebuild.

Do a deal, get Richardson and Blakemon and were set. A good offensive can get us to the SB just look at New England. Defensive pieces can be found, we have the HC to find them now.

Stop the Manning gone talk, he deserves more from us, the fans, than just to be written off.

[Polian's Comments on the Bill Polian Show [Merge]]

^{Why can't Pollian throw Caldwell under the bus he did it to Howard Mudd and our O-line in the losing SB. When I thought our O-Line played pretty good. It wasn't the fact we were out coached the entire 2nd half.}

[Solutions In Progress But Complex In Nature]

Well, I don't think 10 plus wins the last nine years means that Pollian has not done a pretty good job getting the right pieces to the puzzle. Yes, mistakes have been made. Wrong players have been drafted but this is also a business too and sometimes you have to milk the most out of players you messed up on in order to not lose your * with contracts. (Hughes, Brown, Gonzo etc.) Sure we should have won more than 1 SB but we have had a chance for 9 straight years and been to the show twice with 2 other chances if my memory serves me right. Got to have a chance 1st and that has been there.

Now with that said, Caldwell has to go. He has no fire, he has no emotion and I think the players need a different personality to change things up in that locker room. I have never been happy with Caldwell, he did nothing in college, he was forced on us by Dungy in order for Dungy to come back for 1 more season which we all wanted. I think everyone can agree, he gets out coached all the time and that was never more evident than the SB two years ago. The pieces were already in place for his SB run the year after Dungy left so now three years removed we are seeing the real coaching ability and it isn't there. The defensive scheme is horrible, the cover two is no longer the answer and has outgrown its luster. We can't get off the field on 3rd down and forever by dropping back in forever coverage cushion and rush 3 to 4 down lineman. We don't have the DB's to cover without pressure and your only putting them in a position to fail. The defensive scheme is broke, toss it out. Now to the offensive side, it's probable time to get a fresh face in there as well, because running the same scheme for 10 plus years has made us very predictable. We run the same vanilla routes that every team knows were going to run. I don't care who your QB is, if you play in the NFL and your down 50 plus pts, there is no way you should have only 62 total yds passing unless the other team knows exactly what your going to run. Just saying. I don't even need to talk about special teams!

Sure Peyton helps cover a lot of problems with his play and if he were playing it would be different. He's the greatest QB ever and we all see that now if you ever doubted it but this team is in trouble in the locker room. Players aren't playing for Caldwell and he has to be held accountable. I'm a Colts fan and I'm never going to fall off the bandwagon but this fan base wants change and I think we have a right to ask for change. You would have to be blind not to see it. Clean house, get someone with some fire and emotion and change your scheme's. You can't do that through the draft for immediate results so they are going to have to attack free agency and cut some dead weight.